Plant-setting machine



K. G. HLN

PLANT-SETTING MACHINE:

Dec, 9, 1952 v3 Sheets-Sheet. l

Filed Deo. 28, 1945 Dec. 9, 1952 A K. G. HLN 2,620,757

PLANT-SETTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. KARL G. AHLEN ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1952 2,620,757

PLANT-SETTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INYENTOR G. ,4H/.EN

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1952 liarlGustav hln;

by mesme-assignments, York, N. Y., Leslie M. Merrill,

Stockholm, Sweden, assigner;-` to Jarvis C;llllarblt?,Newsy Westficldy1 N. J

and Percy H. Batten; Racing/Wist, .trustees Application December 28, 1945;

SfClaims.

This invention relates to agriculture and more particularly to an apparatus for automatically setting :plants or seedlings in the earth.

Heretofore numerous power driven automatic plantershavef been proposed and manufactured but iin the `main these have been relatively large cumbersome devices requiring an excessive amount 'of power to operate and often resulting in damage tothe tender plants or seedlings which prevented subsequent proper growth.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to providel a power driven automatic planter which may be operated entirely with unskilled labor and which will efliciently set the plants or seedlings in the earth without damage thereto.

It is afurther object of the invention to provide a power driven automatic planter which automatically sets the plants or seedlings in the earth atl predetermined ydistances and which firmly packs=the earth therearound to firmly support the rplant Further objects and advantages of the invention will cbe apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l isaside elevational view partially in section for greater-clarity and showing the planter of this invention attached to -a towing vehicle such as a tractor;

Fig. 2, airagmentary side elevational view partially-in section for greater-clarity and drawn to anY enlarged scaleshowing the details of the plantinghmechanisrn:

Fig'. 3; a fragmentary rear elevational view of one-half; cftheplanteroi this invention;

Fig.- 4t; a fragmentary top plan view showing the plant conveyor belt and the associated parts for facilitating the placing of plants on such belt;

Fig; 5. a fragmentary top. plan view to an enlarged Y scale 'of ythe plant Aconveyor belt .utilized in the planterl of this invention;

Fig. 6, a sectional view on the line 8-5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig,r7, a sectional viewonthe line -l of `Fig. 5.

Withucontinued referenceto the drawing there isshownin Fig` 1 a planter constructed in accord-I ance `with this, invention and having a frameor chassis l which Amay be provided kwith ground engaging wheels lZjmounted upon a transverse axle `l t. Chassis lil is provided with a draw bar l which' maybe suitably coupled to a towing vehicle suchfas a; tractor I3.' This `tractor may abe, provided with Atherusual seat 2B for the driverand a steering wheel 2E-for guiding vthe same over the ground.

Theeplantingmechanism .issupported by ,fa-gen'-` eralily rectangular frame. ,Milwhich is .composed of `varr upper:horizontalmemben 6; a1 downwardly extending; frontzzmember -2 3;", adownwardlyv extending rear `member 30 fand" a `rearwardly and downwardly extending-...flowermember 3 2 .L Frame Minis. .supportedzi for pivotal movements about a horizontal axis Iby pivotepinf llfextendingthrough lower 1' member 32.rrr andi: a downwardlyV dependingr bracket f3 6 secured -ito the chassis l 0S Pivotallyfmountedfon'the; downwardly extending. rear lmember 30 of theframe 24 is-a substantially vertically disposed housing 381wh`ich is pivotally mounted byfav pivot pinv llt)V extending through thef downwardlym extending rear member 3thV Dsposedflwithin'thelcasing v3&3 'fisA a conveyor belt dzlwhiclris trained laround a -roller44 located adjacentith'e lower-.end offcasing-Sm belt 42`extendingrupwardly and over-pulleys 46A and `43-and forwardly therefrom over an idler pulley 501 adjustablyY secured by an eye fbolt 52"-and a nut 54vto the-forwardend of-'they upperfhorizontal member ZSOframe--ZL Belt 42 is also engagedv byan idler rollerrilsecured' to the upperV horizontal 2 memberiin order-'toimpart sufcient tension thereto.y PulleyA 45' is mounted on a shaft 58v and also secured-*topthis shaft'isfay sprocket 65, the purposefof-which lwill bepresently described.

Also" disposed lwith-inthe casing-"38 is a1 `second belt 62 inI confronting relation tothe/beltlbelt 62 being trained arounda pulley'-disposed-at the vlower-end-of casing 1;3;8 Sandi the -upper-end :of belt @62 beingfftrained-faround arpulley 66- mounted orrvshjaft GBfand-j asecond pulley l0.' Pulley H'ris vcarriedjbya springmember{l2whch'is anchored `at -14- -to-the frame-24 landspringmember 12 serves to urgey the pu-lleyflin 'adirection to imparta tension' to -belt g6 2 "thus `maintaining the same inwrmAdriving engagementwith 'pulleyg E. Alsomounted'on shaft-'68""is a sprocket; the purposef'which willfzberlater described. The conronting portions.. 18`of 'belt 421'and 80 `of v.belt 62 arezheld` in engagement;th'roughout' their 1engthof g travel within the casingilbyd springs 82in engagement ,withthe rean surfaces thereof these `springs being securedjto. thepaSing8;fY

Belt s l2A and,` 62" are driven 4by achainll trainedoverv sprocketsy "v andi 1.6' and; over another sprocket mounted on shaft. Also mountedon shaft L881s asprocket. engagingla chainjwhich inturnis tainedover.asprocket 9,4 ,mountedguponthe ;,ax1l4 landdriven by. the ground ...engasingiwhce1s- ,l 2,2. Chain.. 84- .ia mai-ntanedlunderltensicn and improper4 engagement with the associated sprockets by a tightening roller 96 rotatably mounted upon an arm 98 pivotally mounted at on ears |02 extending upwardly from chassis |0. Arm 98 is biased away from the chain 84 to exert a sumcient tension thereon by a tension spring |04 attached to the arm 98 and extension |010` of the chassis |0. Chain 92 is maintained in rm engagement with sprockets 90 and 94 by an idler roller |08 carried by an arm ||0 pivotally mounted on the downwardly extending rear member of frame 24, arm ||0 being biased in a direction to exert a proper tension on chain 92.

Since it is necessary that the casing 33 be 0scillated about the pivot in synchronization with the forward movement of the planter over the ground and at a frequency wherebythere will be substantially zero relative movement between the lower end of the casing 38 and the ground when the lower end of the casing 38 is' moving rearwardly and the planter is moving forwardly in order that the plants or seedlings may be deposited in the earth without breakage or pulling the same therefrom, means is provided for accomplishing this purpose in the form of a cam |2 carried by a shaft ||4 rotatably mounted on downwardly extending rear member 300i frame 24. Cam 2 is driven by a chain ||6 engaging a sprocket mounted on shaft ||4 and another sprocket mounted on a shaft 68. Chain I I6 is held in engagement with these sprockets by an idler roller I8 carried by an arm |20 pivotally mounted on downwardly extending rear member 30 of frame 24.

Cam ||2 engages a follower |22 mounted upon the casing 38 and as will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 as the cam 2 rotates the lobes thereof will urge the casing 38 forwardly and rearward motion of the casing 38 is caused by tension spring |24 connected to the casing 38 and the lower portion of downwardly extending member 30 of frame 24. It will thus be seen that by this mechanism there has been provided means to oscillate the casing 38 about the supporting pivot 40 and in timed relation to the forward movement of the planter and by reason of the contour of the cam ||2 and the speed of rotation thereof the oscillatory movement of casing 38 will be such that there will be substantially zero relative motion between the lower end of casing 38 and the ground as the planter moves forwardly thereover.

Since it is necessary that a furrow be provided in the earth within which the plants may be deposited a plow is provided in the form of downwardly extending blades |26 attached to the lower member 32 of frame 24 and likewise since it is necessary to replace the earth removed in forming the furrow after the plant has been deposited therein means is provided in the form of blades |28 also attached to the frame 24. In order to further compact the earth around the plants or seedlings which have been deposited in the furrow there is provided rearwardly of the casing 38 and blades |28 a pair of spaced wheels |30 which are journalled on a shaft 32 and supported by a bracket |34 secured to the rear downwardly extending member 30 of frame 24. Wheels |30 are driven by a sprocket |36 attached to shaft |32 there being a chain |38 trained over this sprocket and over another sprocket |40 mounted on shaft H4. Since shaft ||4 is driven in timed relation to movement of ground engaging wheels |2 compacting wheels |30 will likewise be driven in timed relation and will serve to rmly compact the earth around the plants deposited in the furrow by belts 42 and 62.

It being desirable that water be supplied to the plants and seedlings deposited in the earth a water container in the form of a tank |42 is mounted upon the chassis |0 and from this tank there extends a conduit |44 connected to a valve I 46. Also connected to valve |48 is a flexible conduit in the form of a hose |48 which terminates in a nozzle |58 disposed between the plow blades |28 in order to direct water into the furrow formed by such blades. Since it is not necessary that a continuous stream of water be provided but only that such water be emitted from the nozzle |58 as each plant is deposited in the furrow means is provided for intermittently interrupting the flow of such water yand such means may well comprise :an abutment |52 secured to the lower member 32 of frame 24 and in engagement with the hose |48 and a compressing member |54 secured to the casing and in engagement with the hose |48, compressing member |54 operating upon oscillation of casing 38 to compress the hose |48 and interrupt flow. Since the oscillatory movement of casing 88 is in timed relation to the deposition of plants in the furrow formed by plow blades |26 water will therefore be emitted from nozzle |50 only when such plants have been deposited and will be interrupted by compression of the hose |48 between abutment |52 and compressing member |54 during the interval when plants are being conveyed downwardly by the belts 42 and 62 preparatory to depositing the same within the furrow in the earth.

Since it is necessary to raise the ground engaging elements such as plow blades |26 leveling blades |28 land wheels |30 out of engagement with the ground when transporting the planter from one eld to another, mechanism is provided for this purpose in the form of a bell crank lever |58l pivoted at |58 on a bracket extending from chassis i8. Bell crank lever |56 is provided with an arm |68 extending forwardly and through an aperture in this varm extends a rod |82 attached to downwardly extending rear member 30 of frame 24, rod |92 being surrounded by a compression spring |64 `and at the upper end thereof being provided with a nut |88 which upon upward movement of the arm |60 causes upward movement of the frame 24 to raise the plow members |20 and associated elements above the ground. Bell crank lever |55 is provided with a pawl |58 which is actuated by a'grip lever |19 through a link H2 pawl |68 serving to engage notches |74 in quadrant |78 to maintain the bell crank lever |58 in the desired position of adjustment.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 movement of the bell crank lever |53 in a clockwise direction will serve to raise the ground engaging elements out of engagement with the ground and movement in the opposite direction will serve to lower these elements into engagement with the ground whereby normal operation of the planter may proceed. In this position the spring |84 serves to retain these elements in engagement with the ground and should obstructions be encountered the plow blades |26 will simply cause the lower member 32' of frame 24 to ride upwardly lagainst the action of spring |04 and the blades |23 will immediately be urged into reengagement with the ground and form the proper furrow for deposition of plants conveyed downwardly by belts 42 and '62.

As shown in lFigs. 5, 6 and 7 conveyor belt 42 may be provided with apertures |18 which `are adapted to be engaged by pins or sprocket teeth upon pulleys 46 carried by shafts 56 in order to maintain the movement of the belt 42 synchronized with the movement of the ground engaging wheels I2. Belts 42 may be formed of rubber or other suitable flexibleY material and may be provided with elongated recesses |80 which are adapted to receive the plants to be deposited by the planter in the furrow in the ground, these recesses |80 also having ribs |82 provided therein to engage and hold the plants or seedlings without damage thereto. The trailing edge of the recess |30 may be provided with a beveled or tapered portion |84 which serves to receive a portion of the plant or seedling carried by belt 42 in order to prevent damage thereto.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 the conveyor belt 42 has an upper horizontal run |86 carried by the upper member 26 of the frame 24 and adjacent to this run |86 there is provided a tray |88 upon -which may be disposed the plants to be deposited in the earth by the planter of this invention. Seats |90 supported upon pedestals |92 from the chassis l0 may be provided for the operators and as will be seen from an inspection of the drawing it is only necessary for these operators -to select the plants from the tray |88 and to place these plants in the recesses |80 in the belt 42 in the proper position to be carried thereby to the planting location.

vSince it is obvious that much dirt will be accumulated on belts 42 and 62 means is provided in the form of brushes |94 in engagement with such belts which will serve to remove this material therefrom.

In operation it is only necessary for the planter of this invention to be coupled to a towing vehicle such as a tractor I8 and to position operators on the seats |90 which operators select and position plants or seedlings within the recesses |80 of the belt 42, these plants being carried rearwardly and downwardly within the casing 38 and being held in position by the engagement of belts 42 and 62 these seedlings or plants being deposited in furrows in the earth formed by blades |26 carried by the lower memloer 32 of the frame 24 and also water being provided for these seedlings from the nozzle |50 controlled by the abutment |52 .and the compressing member |54. Since at the time the plant is deposited in the furrow the casing 38 is moving rearwardly by reason of the action of the cam l l2 there will be no relative motion between the casing 38 and the earth and consequently the .plant will be deposited in the furrow without withdrawing the same from such furrow. After depositing the plant in the furrow the earth is replaced by the blades |28 carried by the lower member 32 of frame 24 and the earth is `further compacted around the plant by wheels |30. This operation may of course be carried on indefinitely by providing a sufcient supply of plants in the trays |88.

It is to be understood that the mechanism above described is provided in duplicate on each planter whereby plants may be set simultaneously in spaced parallel rows.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a plant setting machine, a vehicle adapted for forward travel over the ground, a plant setting device supported on said vehicle and comprising a first endless belt having a substantially vertical feeding portion and a loading portion disposed .at a substantial angle to said feeding portion, a second endless belt also supported on said vehicle and having a. substantially vertical feeding portion disposed in closely confronting juxtaposition to the feeding portion of said first belt, said feeding portions of said belts cooperating to receive .and convey 4therebetween objects such as plants and the like placed on said loading portion, said feeding portions being generally disposed in a vertical plane parallel to the line of travel to the vehicle with the lower ends of said feeding portions terminating adjacent the ground to form a delivery end, means supporting said feeding portions for movement in said vertical plane, means for actuating said belts to move the feeding sections thereof downwardly in unison, means synchronized with the forward travel of the vehicle and with the means for actuating said belts for intermittently imparting to the delivery end of said feeding portions a rearward movement to compensate for forward travel of the vehicle at the time the object is being delivered, whereby periods are provided during which there is substantially no relative horizontal movement of said delivery end and the object being delivered therefrom on the one hand and the ground on the other.

2. In a planting machine as set forth in cl-aim 1, said rst mentioned means comprising a pivotally mounted supporting structure and said third mentioned means comprising means to oscillate said structure to Iprovide said movement of the delivery end.

3. In a planting machine as set forth in claim 1, said second belt having a portion in cooperative confronting relation to said rst belt forwardly of said feeding portions.

KARL GUsTAv HLE'N.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 474,425 Updike l May 10, 1892 964,820 Snyder July 19, 1910 1,106,405 Poucher Aug. 11, 1914 1,398,190 Howard Nov. 22, 1921 1,484,248 Austin Feb. 19, 1924 1,568,594 Flint Jan. 5, 1926 1,573,270 Pearson Feb. 16, 1926 1,657,944 Stocker et al. Jan. 31, 1928 1,848,865 Bacle Mar. 8, 1932 1,948,332 Carter Feb. 20, 1984 2,145,771 McCartney Jan. 31, 1939 2,197,225 Pierson Apr. 16, 1940 2,294,348 Kolstad Apr. 25, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 33,844 France Aug. 28, 1928 (1st addition to No. 634,451) 434,035 Germany Sept. 17, 1926 

